Indeed getting up at 0400 to my alarm. Hernan was up, we had a parting yarn. I had a coffee and a couple of pastries.

By the time the bike was out of the gate sweat was starting to trickle. “Smart move” came to mind.

Out on the road it was good to feel the wind on my face again.

The road was quiet, and good speed was made.

The day prior my riding position had been slightly changed raising the bars and tilting the seat down a tad whilst moving it forward.

This new position was great it felt like a different mount.

It was a pleasure riding in the dark, the k’s slipped by with ease, by now moisture was very prevalent on my skin and clothing. The temp must have been about 26 with the now common 90+ humidity, it was only 0600.

Daylight bought a slightly overcast day with many guys roadside on their mules heading to work. Such small animals with large men on their backs. Many were tethered feeded on the roadside vegetation.

Greeting people all the way was such a pleasure.

Bueno, buenas, buen dia were uttered, depending on the recipient. This is very enjoyable part of this form of travel. All manner of replies were recieved.

In Galerazamba a huge melon was purchased for under $2 , at the most half was eaten, the rest given to the staff to enjoy, kindly the lady gave me 2000 pesos back. It was a good source of sugar and importantly water.

The road had a good shoulder and few hills.

Cartagena soon loomed in the distance with high rise and roadside housing.

A lovely coast line greeted me on the entry to town. Fisherman, footballers, swimmers and joggers were all on the beach.

Arriving in downtown, the best pork had to date was consumed from a road stall, this was washed down with lemon juice, the two combined were heaven in bag and paradise in a cup.

Asking people accommodation was found.

Within 10 minutes of looking about. I bumped into Maria one of the volunteers from Nic, small world, we had a catch up and decided to catch up in the evening.

Finally settling on the Hostel Mamallena for a bed, it was known that Mike and Maggy from Santa Lucia in Nic were staying .

It was so good to catch up with them, old nic house mates, we had a great catch up full of laughs.

The afternoon was spent sightseeing together, with a few beers and dinner. It was so good to be able to talk about previous experiences together.To say the town has some historic significance is an understatement. The spanish had a whole community within walls. This huge town is now turista central.

Most people in the hostel arrived here by yacht from Panama. I have a private ground level room, If in Cartagena, this place I recommend. Most people here were backpackers with a few motorcyclists adding to the cocktail.

It was a great relaxed place, at $22/ night it was good value.

Humidity here is off the scale, Maggy is from Germany, she was onto her 5th shower for the day. Even the locals said today was humid plus

Luckily Coffs my home town is humid at times, for me it was extreme but not incapacitating.

Eastern approaches to Cartagena

Mike and Maggy, so good to catch up. They are off to Santa marta to do a couple of months volunteering in a school.

Typical street Cartagena

If you want the best ever drink on a hot humid day, keep a good eye out for one of these carts with the aquarium full of light green liquid on board, expect to pay 50c a cup.

On the wall of Castillo de San Felipe

Such a lovely city, a favorite of the Spanish. it was a base for Plundering many burial sites within its vicinity. Fortification was to keep guys like Jack Sparrow at bay